http://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=192
TalismanThere are in this country some places, where people like to add&nbsp;ribbons. I wanted to ask since my arrival, what this kind of loop or bow means. I was not sure if I could speak openly about it. In my driving license, it says that one should never a...There are in this country some places, where people like to add ribbons. I wanted to ask since my arrival, what this kind of loop or bow means. I was not sure if I could speak openly about it. In my driving license, it says that one should never ask a question to an unknown person about his/her body or religion. Sometimes, -I thought- these ribbons could be some kind of Talisman or a gift in memory of a loved one.

The country doesn't seem dangerous to me. Why would these people hang talismans from trees, fences or ropes? Walking along the streets in the dark hours is never scary. There are just too many people living in this country, especially in this city. During the day it is so crowded that I can't get on the train. People wait in line, so orderly. They often fall asleep in the train.

If the ribbons were some kind of Talisman, why is it so popular, so prevalent? I didn't know the name of this evil spirit, from whom people wanted to protect themselves. None revealed the name to me and I never tried to find out. In some cultures, one should never pronounce the name of an evil power. Otherwise, it could appear in reality. One should call it indirectly. For example, in place of its name one says “it”.

Some weeks ago, I was about to take a bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo, when I was told by Arisa -a friend of a friend of mine- that a man had wriggled out of the bathroom window of the train and leaped to freedom. She added that this man wasn't intelligent since he hadn't understood that freedom could only be among the living ones. The man was depressed. He worked over 72 hours per week and committed suicide. He used to live alone, Aria said, while she touched the pink lace hanging from her bag.

What does that ribbon mean? I asked. Surprised, she looked at me and asked if I meant the lace of her pet cuddly keychain. The idea of having a “pet” hanging from a keychain seemed to me somehow disturbing. Arisa said uninterested that the pink lace of her pet cuddly keychain had no meaning, “it is just decoration”.

(like) a clamshell
divided into two we depart now
into this autumn ...

Entre las olas:

(crumbled into fragments)

acá, los pétalos,

allá, las conchas.

"Narrow Road to Oku". MATSUO, BASHO

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-25T13:01:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=188
Naoshima Art Complex: of how a praying mantis rocks at James Turrel’s Open SkyWhen trying to understand how the island of Naoshima, located in the Seto Inland Sea, became a major tourist destination within the last two decades, one takes a closer look at the foundation of the Benesse Corporation and tries to understand its inter...When trying to understand how the island of Naoshima, located in the Seto Inland Sea, became a major tourist destination within the last two decades, one takes a closer look at the foundation of the Benesse Corporation and tries to understand its interest for the island and its relationship with the Mitsubishicompany, which has been exploiting the resources of the northern part of the island for hundred years. Nothing seems clear. On the one hand, the Benesse Corporation has been enriched by the need of rich parents to overeducate their kids, producing correspondence publishing and educational materials for children. On the other side, the local administration of the island is looking for investors helping to change its land’s image overseas. According to rumors, the project starts with the idea of creating a summer camp for kids. A learning environment in direct contact with nature. Apparently, this never happens. Instead, the chairperson decides to build a very sophisticated hotel, the first in the island, in order to share his top-art collection with his friends and spread the company’s motto “Benesse” of -Well-Being. Designed in partnership with the great architect Tadao Ando, the hotel is just the beginning of an enormous project, which nowadays involves the islands of Naoshima and Teshima in Kagawa Prefecture and the Inujima island in Okayama Prefecture.

Naoshima’s public main attraction is the Chichu Art Museum. Using only concrete -the material by which Ando’s work gained international acclaim, the museum has been entirely designed in order to ensure the best contemplation of its artworks, while working in dialog with the natural environment of the island. The spaces have been built almost entirely underground, creating a playful aerial view of basic geometrical forms such as squares, rectangles, and triangles. This powerful perspective, which is only available through the image archive of the museum, cannot be experienced as Earthling. The whole complex has a very strict no-photo policy.

The visit begins through the Chichu Garden. Along the roadway from the ticket counter to the museum’s entrance, a little river waters dozens of types of flora similar to those planted by Claude Monet, such as water lilies. A unique introduction to his work, which later on will be seen inside the museum.

(I enjoy looking at the gardener. He seems so proud of this beautiful place and shows some visitors the most valuable specimens.)

Once inside the complex, the visitor is conducted through a semi-open-air experience of concrete and light. The side walls of the triangular venue, contain an interior hallway open to the outside, allowing to experience the changing effects of light and shadow from different perspectives, while the visitor goes up and down to the following spaces. As if the shape of this very first space introduced the trinity of artists selected for this almost sacred experience, the visitor is invited to contemplate the masterpieces of Walter de María, Claude Monet and James Turrel. Ando’s meticulous design succeeds in creating the best atmosphere for the contemplation of these artworks. Nothing seems to be left to chance. The pristine staff’s uniform is the perfect camouflage for the environment and their efficient commitment to arrange every pair of shoes equidistantly on the access to the art pieces is almost performative.

I experience the highlight of my visit to James Turrel’s Open Sky installation. When “entering” this square space, one is firstly blinded by the reflected light. While sitting on the bench annexed to the walls of the inner square structure of the room, my eyes slowly get used to this brightness. I look at the window to the sky and for a moment I experience that intriguing blued flatness. There are no clouds. It seems like a perfect day in heaven. Suddenly, something breaks the illusion. A praying mantis has visited us from the outer world and is now struggling not to fall down into space. The insect’s in and out movements reveal the hidden volume of the window’s fence/frame and ruin Turrel’s intention. I cannot avoid that smile on my face. This little insect seems so powerful for a moment and the situation is irremediably linked to subtle irony. A certain sort of pathos makes up a bittersweet sensation inside me.

I leave the building and enjoy a bike ride to the Art House Project of Honmura, looking for a more earthly (maybe less elitist) experience of art.

I higly recommend having a baht at Shinro Ohtake's installation and enjoying some of the local culinary specialties.

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-18T11:41:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=191
EarthAfter visiting Amanohashidate I leave the coast, drive back to the south and stop at Aino Station. There should be a bus driving to the Tamba Traditional Crafts Park, Tachikui Sue no Sato, but the area doesn&rsquo;t seem to be attractive enough for tou...After visiting Amanohashidate I leave the coast, drive back to the south and stop at Aino Station. There should be a bus driving to the Tamba Traditional Crafts Park, Tachikui Sue no Sato, but the area doesn’t seem to be attractive enough for tourists and there is neither information in English, nor anyone ready to help. I was hoping I could leave my backpack in the lockers but there are none. I leave the station, a bus approaches but it doesn’t stop. I cross the street and enter a shop whose nature I am not able to identify. There is an old lady inside. I show her the park’s address from my mobile phone. After looking at me she puts her glasses on and has a look at the screenshot. She leaves the place and walks towards the station. I follow her and she takes me to the bus stop where I understand, I should wait. Without saying anything, she takes a seat next to me. I look at her. Serenely she stares at her business's door. I decide not to say anything. We wait. About 20 minutes later a bus approaches, stops in front of us and picks me up. When the bus has left the station, I see her in the distance crossing the street back to the shop.

I hadn’t thought about it since then.

Visiting Tachikui Sue no Sato was very stimulating. Maybe too much. The city has around 60 pottery studios, hundreds of tableware. At some point, I am not able to digest it all. The saturation takes me to a coffee. Hoping to have a visual rest, on the way I find an open classroom where people of all ages knead the clay between their hands and against the table, determined to give shape to that piece of earth. Curiosity moves me in. I am given a portion of clay and offered a place to seat.

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-14T19:01:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=190
Exercises of approximation (mainland/island-mainland/island) II: Amanohashidate.Saturday, 13 October
The first day of a 7-day-trip.
Attracted by its shape, I visit Amanohashidate: a thin strip of land (over 3 km long) connecting two sides of mainland/island.&nbsp;
Although it is a scenic view, the panoramic perspective fr...Saturday, 13 October

The first day of a 7-day-trip.

Attracted by its shape, I visit Amanohashidate: a thin strip of land (over 3 km long) connecting two sides of mainland/island.

Although it is a scenic view, the panoramic perspective from the mountains located on either side of the bay neither allows me to experience its shape nor to document it through time.

I need to encounter it.

I take a ferry (roundtrip) through the inner side of the bay (Asoumi sea) and film the land and the water. At some points, it is possible to see the water of the other side (mouth of the bay) through the spaces between the pine trees.

I rent a bike and cross along the sandbar. It takes about 15 minutes. Half hour roundtrip. On the east side, there is a sandy beach. I stop to have a sense of the water in my feet and have that closer perspective recorded.

The night falls around 5:30 pm and I have the chance to see some fishermen slowly moving in the water.

By the time I get to the north side, the darkness is deep and get lost when cycling back to the hostel.

I have started documenting my encounter with different pieces of land/soil (mainland-island or island-island), my transfer between them. I have also started documenting the water on which the ship travels.

through these exercises of approximation, I experience distances. The time of the approximation depends on the "joining vehicle". http://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=187

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-13T10:46:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=187
Exercises of approximation (mainland/island-island) I: Atami-Hatsushima round tripMonday, 8 October
I have started documenting my encounter with different pieces of land/soil (mainland-island or island-island), my transfer between them. I have also started documenting the water on which the ship travels.&nbsp;
through these ex...Monday, 8 October

I have started documenting my encounter with different pieces of land/soil (mainland-island or island-island), my transfer between them. I have also started documenting the water on which the ship travels.

through these exercises of approximation, I experience distances. The time of the approximation depends on the "joining vehicle".

It could be endless.

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-08T19:05:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=186
Culinary Welcome PartySunday, October 7
Since I arrived in&nbsp;Tokyo, Art Center Ongoing has been a continuous comings and goings, holding cultural events of diverse nature. So it&#39;s no surprise that yesterday&#39;s evening, the day my welcome party was planned, we a...Sunday, October 7

Since I arrived in Tokyo, Art Center Ongoing has been a continuous comings and goings, holding cultural events of diverse nature. So it's no surprise that yesterday's evening, the day my welcome party was planned, we also celebrated the closing party of Art Fair Ongoing (10/4-7). The fun, however, didn't end there, since I could also get to know some TERAKKO or TERATOTERA (https://www.artscouncil-tokyo.jp/en/what-we-do/creation/hubs/teratotera/2158/) volunteers. Moreover, we did so and enjoyed the most amazing fish I have eaten since I arrived. Nishioka-san, one of the participants in TERATOTERA Art Project -event which, by the way, is directed by Nozomu-, bought "sea bream" and "yellowtail" from Tsukiji Fish Market.

He wasn't the only one involved in making of this evening a great culinary event, another TERAKKO whose family lives in Hokkaido (Northern part of Japan, that is well known for good seafood), was sent lots of "saury" and decided to share it with us at Art Center Ongoing.

I must confess that at some point in the evening my western way of thinking made me went through a moment of confusion. I was supposed to introduce myself and make a presentation of my work but when and where should that happen? The evening had become rather a culinary event in which diners participated in a nonstop parade of delicious foods and drinks. So I was surprised when at 9 pm, as planned, Nozomu made some free space on the table we were eating from and plugged on the projector. I took my laptop out my bag, connected it and suddenly everyone stopped talking. These people had just shown to me once again how respectful they are.

They listened carefully and, although I had the feeling everyone could understand my English, Megumi translated everything I said to ensure the best communication. It was my first experience being translated, so it took some time to get used to it and to stop every couple of sentences.

Among the works I talked about, the performance "Vanishing Office" and the permanent installation "Codex", both a collaboration with some friends of mine from the Art School in Kassel, turned out to be of most interest. Some of them found politically incorrect to destroy so many books. This wouldn't happen in Japan -they said: "books are History, part of our culture". I explained to them the exact nature of the books used for the project but didn't try to change their way of thinking. I am aware the piece may be quite controversial. It was any way interesting for me to hear their opinions. In the end, some of them ended up discussing between them, whether it is ok or not to keep every single "book" or printed issue we have, old or new...

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-07T20:51:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=185
Entering the treasure cave. Kintsugi workshop at ROKUJIGENLeaving Ogikubo Station behind and facing the west to the railway track, I pass several fast&nbsp;food restaurants, pachinko locals and a karaoke&nbsp;bar. Some meters further the street becomes narrower and a couple of typical restaurants&nbsp;and a s...Leaving Ogikubo Station behind and facing the west to the railway track, I pass several fast food restaurants, pachinko locals and a karaoke bar. Some meters further the street becomes narrower and a couple of typical restaurants and a shrine contrast with the neon-flashing lights, which prevail around the station. Next to a ramen shop, a metallic staircase leads to the place I am looking for. There is no street number, no sign. I walk up and down the street several times until I finally find it. It is like a treasure cave, dark and full of precious items and -of course- almost impossible to find... thousands of books are piled up to the ceiling while others serve as bases for a variety of pieces of ceramic tableware. I am excited about this encounter of mine...

By the time I arrive, there are already around 10 persons sitting inside, each one in front of a free deck area, with a selection of tools prepared to be used and, although I arrive on time, I feel as if I was late.

No one speaks English except for a woman. Nakamura -the owner and who leads the workshop- frees up a seat next to her.

I receive two objects. Each one has a small fracture on the edge. We receive instructions on how to proceed. I don't understand anything, so my helpmate translates the main information. I don't mind not understanding it all. I look at Nakamura's gestures and enjoy the participant's reactions. I hear the trains go by. Sometimes everything vibrates. Just a little. However, everyone keeps focused on their work. It feels like being transported to another time.

I leave the place after having expressed several times my gratitude in English and the few words in Japanese I know. I have lost track of time. It's been three hours. No, almost four. I feel excited, tired and happy all at the same time. I am grateful that I enjoyed this evening. I am grateful to my friend and artist Arisha Kawabe, who told me about this place, and of course to Nakamura, for sharing his knowledge with us.

(http://www.6jigen.com/index.html)

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-06T10:19:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=184
Ikema Yuko's Concert at OngoingWednesday, 3 October&nbsp;
The gallery space of Ongoing is full of folding chairs where silent people wait for the show to start, while the artist smokes her last cigarette downstairs. She looks so young...&nbsp;Almost every one I&#39;ve met so far ...Wednesday, 3 October

The gallery space of Ongoing is full of folding chairs where silent people wait for the show to start, while the artist smokes her last cigarette downstairs. She looks so young... Almost every one I've met so far looks younger than s/he is. You can hear her laughter. I drink my tea.

After some minutes of individual reflection, she goes up. She takes place and says something I can't understand -of course- but I barely think I'd understand if I could speak Japanese. She speaks so softly almost too quietly that I'm surprised when everyone reacts laughing.

Another moment of quietness and she starts singing.

A beautiful, powerful voice leaves her mouth, her body. She plays the guitar. I am delighted. I don't understand what the song is about but it doesn't matter. It sounds like gentle, playful, sweet, womanly freedom. It could be a lullaby, a tale, a love story... she is magic.

I close my eyes to enjoy the sound for some time but I want to look at her. She generates this energy you want to stare at her. the room is filled with enthusiasm. I feel so moved I want to hug her.

Suddenly something surprises me again. It is Yukie. She gives me a piece of paper. She has written down a translation of the lyrics for me. That's such a gentle gesture! Although I don't need her to do it -I am enjoying it so much without knowing what the songs are about-, until the end of the evening, she gives me another piece of paper everytime a song ends.

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-04T11:19:50+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=182
I like it here!Yesterday I went to Shinyuku&nbsp;Garden -National Garden- but didn&#39;t take the right train, so I dropped off at Waseda Station and walked around an hour through surprisingly empty streets and avenues.&nbsp;Of course, I got lost but I could find mys...Yesterday I went to Shinyuku Garden -National Garden- but didn't take the right train, so I dropped off at Waseda Station and walked around an hour through surprisingly empty streets and avenues. Of course, I got lost but I could find myself again. I like it much more in non-tourist locations.

]]>報告2018-10-04T11:00:52+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=181
Kichijoji’s YokochoLeaving Kichijoji&rsquo;s station from its north exit, we face the -always crowded- shopping arcade SUN ROAD, where you can find literally EVERYTHING. This time we turn to the left before getting into it. I follow Nozomu. He gets into the tiny space th...Leaving Kichijoji’s station from its north exit, we face the -always crowded- shopping arcade SUN ROAD, where you can find literally EVERYTHING. This time we turn to the left before getting into it. I follow Nozomu. He gets into the tiny space that there is between a clothing shop and a drug store. It is like entering a different world. He doesn’t stop. We walk along a number of narrow alleys flanked by very small bars that cross the site. It is like being in a labyrinth! Suddenly Nozomu stops and I follow him into a local with two places free. I don’t think I could ever find that site again by myself and even less order something. The place is covered with yellowish papers listing what I imagine is the menu. Nozomu says most of them are drinks. I only understand the word “beer” and that’s what I want. Nozomu orders some food after asking me what I want. “Surprise me”. Since I arrived in Tokyo I mostly don’t know what I am ordering and when I try to order something I never get what I thought I asked for. Slight misunderstandings which make every day a new adventure.

The place reminds me traditional bars in my home country, Spain.

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-04T10:42:26+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=180
UENOYESI didn&#39;t have the chance to write about UENOYES Ballon Festival, produced by the artist Katsuhiko Hibino (check his work, it is really nice)&nbsp;and which took place at Ueno Park three days ago. Nozomu Ogawa is &quot;Arts Time Project&quot; direct...I didn't have the chance to write about UENOYES Ballon Festival, produced by the artist Katsuhiko Hibino (check his work, it is really nice) and which took place at Ueno Park three days ago. Nozomu Ogawa is "Arts Time Project" director of this event, so I was very lucky that I could go around with him and have a chat with some of the participating artists.

I was especially touched by the atmosphere. The invited artists conducted their projects in an inclusive and collective way. It was beautiful to see how participants of all ages got engaged. I personally was moved by the participatory choral performance by Torus Vil. Their voices, accompanied by gentle moves (walking around in an organic, fluid manner) would welcome everyone, creating a chorus in which you could not distinguish the guiding voice. It was just beautiful.

Unfortunately, I did not make it to see the work "Children's Pride" by Takayuki Yamamoto, a kind of demonstration conducted by children!!

It was not one of those chance occurrences that the main curator of the festival invited Spanish artist José María Sicilia who, along with El Instante Foundation, presented his 7-year project based on the events of March 11 2011. Since the earthquake devastated Tohoku, the artist and his team have worked on a series of actions with children from this area.

The way he approaches this problematic seems so simple at first sight. However, the resulting pieces are powerful.

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-10-02T12:33:11+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=179
Landing at KichijojiLanding at Kichijoji: a -very nice- cup of sake and a typhoon. I have the feeling I am in good hands. Contradictions apart, the kindness of these people has already touched me.
I will keep this blog alive for two months, this is just a short post to s...Landing at Kichijoji: a -very nice- cup of sake and a typhoon. I have the feeling I am in good hands. Contradictions apart, the kindness of these people has already touched me.
I will keep this blog alive for two months, this is just a short post to say hello and good night!!

Natalia

]]>Natalia Escudero2018-09-30T22:39:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=178
Surabaya - Haneda - Kichijoji&nbsp;
Hello my name is kuro im from Indonesia,&nbsp;
right now im join with ongoing ongoing art residency program (so lucky)
and this is my first posting on blog :) :) i hope you &#39;re enjoy my stories
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Goes To Japan
...

Hello my name is kuro im from Indonesia,

right now im join with ongoing ongoing art residency program (so lucky)

and this is my first posting on blog :) :) i hope you 're enjoy my stories

Goes To Japan

CONFUSE!it's probably the most fitting word for my chance to join residency in On Going Art Center – Japan. Excited? ABSOLUTELY! Nervous ABSOLUTELY TOO! Haha. I’m exciting cause I never travel to foreign country before, and now I have opportunity goes to Japan and learning many things about art, culture, people and et cetera. FOR FREE! J But in other side, my wife recently pregnant and I can’t take care of herfor almost two months. I never expecting that my family and my friend give me support to follow this residency. And the struggling journey goes to Japan has begin…

HURRY UP!

When the document permit from On Going Japan has arrived, actually I’m in unhealthy condition. But show must go on! Imust go to Japan Embassy for process the document, but i think that day the earth, wind, sand and sun not recognize with me L the embassy was closed! My heart broken for a while, but I remember in Indonesia there always “CALO” in every sector. Oke,let’s find out! I drove to Japan Tour and Travel Agency and tell that I need VISA to Japan imidiately. But, what I get? Just another broken harted reality. Agency can’t read hand lettering in those document permit and saying I must have minimal 35million rupiahs for go to Japan L SO SAD L But my wife keep pushing me go to Japanese Languange Institute for checking those document and finding help maybe those help me to get VISA.

My day after that, I go to Japan embassy and guess what? Just need 4 days to get Visa Japan. Yay! My heart is so warming haha ​​... but when you think think everything will be okay, actually is not okay anyway. My step father Pass Away Two Has Days After That L Huft. Marathon Broken Hearted News ... And I Do Not Know What I Supposed To Do.

Haneda

After eight hours flight, I can see firsthand the country where doraemon lives. It feels like mixed up, between happy, anxious and dazed. I walked to the immigration queue I passed by staring blankly toward the airfield through a very large glass, sometimes I’m taking picture.When I get to the immigration department I’m worried about whether he will confiscate my stuff? I'm getting nervous because it's the first time I've gone abroad. They checked my bag of paper work, and I surprised when the immigration authorities opened my portopholio book. They ask me? “this is yours?” I say yes that was mine” and I see they smiling to me. Imade it through immigration with a smile. Yippie!

After that, I call Yukie, Sachi and Nozomutold them I was here. Yukie guided me to buy a Kichijoji bus ticket at the bus counter.The bus I use may be the same as the inter-city bus in Indonesia, the bus is big enough only at that time I became the only passenger. It seems that it does not matter, the driver still runs the bus normally and heads to Kichijoji.

Along the way, I looked out the window. Looking at the view of the city of Tokyo that make me amazed, because all the way I was treated to a beautiful view of the house and building.

Kichijoji

Finally has arrived in Kichijoji! The moment I got off the bus I was on the bench opposite the station, it was a kind of public seating with an elephant statue nearby and a pay phone shelter. I also see the square in front of this station, used for the campaign event of the Japanese politician before general election. Sitting down on the bench, Yukie guided me to go to Ongoing.She said that the distance from the stadium to Ongoing only takes 10 minutes walk. While looking at maps and photographs sent as a guide I enjoyed the bright sunshine of Japan that was quite stinging that day.

Kichijoji itself is also included in the Tokyo section. If we take the domestic train very easily and close Ifyou wanna go to the city center like Shinjuku, Roponggi maybe need 20-40 minutes. I think in Tokyo, especially in Kichijoji is a very nice place to live. Not many buildings towering up here,never see traffic jam or solid vehicles on the streets. The air is very fresh. Maybe I will discuss about this city in another article.

Well, actually that day Ongoing was closed but Nozomu Ogawa was inside waiting for me. After chit chat welcoming greeting, we both walk to residency house. The house I live in will also be my studio for the next two months. After bathing and smoking this feeling gets so happy and then I go downstairs to talk to Ogawa san. He lays a few things related to what's in his house like garbage and how to cook rice. The Japanese are very orderly with matters concerning cleanliness. Garbage should be able to be sorted independently making it easier to recycle. There are certain days where garbage officers come to pick up trash, there are days where only plastic waste is picked up, there are days taking cardboard, paper, and glass bottles. Even the color of plastic is distinguished, so officers easily distinguish the contents of the garbage bag.

Ogawa san tasted me food that day and until now I'm lucky to enjoy the various dishes made by him. It's so tasy. Especially his soba noodles! He said that the soba noodles are from flowers, so very good for health. I hope I can cook something here but I've never learned to cook. We talk a few things and he also said that tonight is Ongoing to organize a small party. Sound interesting!

This party is so special for me because I can meet many people from members of collective Ongoing. This farewell party for one member who will residency in chiang mai Thailand for approximately one year. Eating and drinking beer was an exciting event and before the show. I started to get acquaintedwith some of the members, but my memory was pretty lousy, so I had to ask them names a few times. Making Japanese dumplings is also the thing I did before the show started, and we eat the dumplings together.

pin from chiharu kun and tomo kun

Beer on hand, cigarettes, and delicious food and many friendly friends gave me a wonderful memory. Previously I was very nervous to chat with them, because it was my poor English skill and this is the first time I've been a minority in a They make me feel very comfortable. Many people are nice here. What a great party!

see ya in the next posting

kuro

]]>報告2017-11-10T08:51:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=177
Bunchi Diary5 March ( Sunday )
Get Lost Everywhere&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Arrived in TOKYO NARITA Airport around 2 pm, the first situation I faced is the wheels of my suitcase was broken. The first task is to buy a new one. The next task is I need to find the place...5 March ( Sunday )

Get Lost Everywhere

Arrived in TOKYO NARITA Airport around 2 pm, the first situation I faced is the wheels of my suitcase was broken. The first task is to buy a new one. The next task is I need to find the place “Kichijoji” because I get lost later on. Finally, I arrived Art Center Ongoing at 8pm … Good job. Hi Nozomu and Sachiko, they are waiting for me. After I put down my luggage, I had a nice dinner with Sachiko in a traditional Japanese restaurant. That place become one of my favorites restaurant because of the family-style.

6 March ( Monday )

See Doctor Day

The first activity for me is to go to see doctor which is a Chinese medicine shop recommended by Sachiko. I finish the task with google translate and the hands dance. I think it is not expensive. The medicine just cost 600 yen per day! 4536 yen for one week treatment. I hoped to get well soon. Later on, I just walk around Kichijoji. I found that Muji here have sell bicycle. and then, I discovered a second-hand book shop near-by which is 古本よみた屋. It is excited.

7 March ( Tuesday )

Discover Mitaka City 三鷹市

It is still in a sick day. I feel tired all the time and just try to discover the place near-by. I went to the Mitaka Station and meet a Museum soon - Mitaka City Gallery of Art. It shows a lot of little sculpture which have some birds, insect, wild herb, monster, etc. Tiny but delicate. Later, I went into a book shop and drop down some places in travel books. I followed the information and find a vintage shop with cafe called”小古道具”, and the coming is another vintage shop call”Smile-antiques”. They are good but a bit expensive in price. It is come to the dinner time and I just went into a Japanese restaurant with “大眾食堂” in the title. I know that It will be cheaper by my experience. They are passionate! As I have said that I don’t know Japanese but they still keep serving me in Japanese. hahaha therefore, I just point at some dishes in the menu and let see what I had ordered. Oh! It is sausage and Fried meat ball! Great and delicious! When I back to my House, here is Abe jan! The house keeper came back! Haha She is nice as we shared a song with “Cho tto ma te” which is a Japanese Song and sent to HK which sing by Sammi Cheung.

8 March ( Wednesday )

Discover Kichijoji 吉祥寺

I feel dramatic everyday with the gardening here. Btw, I find a new way every-time from my house to the station. This time I found a shop underground “ Vada antiques” which is beautiful and I chat a while with the staff. There are lots of ceramic goods which come from 沖繩 Okinawa. After visited some book shops there, I back home to prepare a sharing on tomorrow.

9 March ( Thursday )
House Warming Party

It is a real Japanese and English practice day. Haha I meet a lot of new friends from Japan and also US (Matt jay). We chat a lot and smoothly move to my presentation. After that, we discussed about my work, the politics in HK, the poetic, the housing problem of HK, Japan and US, the superstition, my two moles in hands, blood type …… until 12 am. It is funny to hear that Japanese believes in moles and the blood type. They all know their blood type and for me, blood b, is bullied… haha maybe they are lazy. The Party was ended around 12 and the other party in my house started. Kanako chat with me the whole night with two slept beauties. She is a smart and cute girl. I think it is what cultural exchange is in our chat, we really talk deep.

10 March ( Friday )

A Lazy Day in Inokashira Park 井の頭恩賜公園 and Nishi-ogikubo 西荻窪

Walk around Kichijoji and the big big Inokashira Park. Relax and enjoy. At night, I went to Nishi-ogikubo until 9pm. As I am so hungry, I just walk into a Japanese bar. I think it is too passionate for me. But anyway, I meet a couple to help me translate. The chef cook the foods in front of me and I made new friends.

11 March ( Saturday )

A dating with Sachi and a talk of HORIO Kanta

We went to the 初台 station in the afternoon and visited some gallery around. As our goal is to listen a talk of HORIO Kanta. It is weird but luckily that we found the free ticket of that show in a private gallery! We meet another ongoing artist outside Yumiko Chiba Associates, and the also the artist Motohiro TOMII 富井大裕 with his current exhibition. Later on, we went to ICC to see the show OPEN SPACE 2016 and we both inspired by the talk by HORIO Kanta. For the dinner, we went to a Japanese bar and have a really nice chat. We talked about the arts community here and my difficulties. We talk too much and nearly forgot to back home.

12 March ( Sunday )

Antique Market and Opening of Isaji

Get up earlier to visit the Tomioka-hanchimangu Shrine Antique Market 富岡八幡宮古董市場. I got a lots of goods there but it closed really early around 2pm. Afterwards, It is Isaji’s show opening! Many people are there and It happened again that a party ended and another party started in my house. Kenji and Isaji came to our house with two sleeping beauties again hahaha. We chat from art community to politics to love relationships until the morning! Amazing talk!

13 March ( Monday )

When I get up, Kenji bring me to a second-hand book shop in Kichijoji which I haven't visit before and we go to 新御茶丿水 station. There are a lot of second-hand music instrument shop and book shop! I am excited. He bring me to a book shop call 夏目書房. I spent a whole day there!

]]>報告2017-03-16T00:33:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=176
My New Year 2016-17 in Japan (part 1)
Most of offices and&nbsp;shops&nbsp;were closed ,everyone went back to their &#39;home&#39;.
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My pesidency time period is between 2016-17 ,so it&#39;s&nbsp;very lucky for me to experienced the&nbsp;japanese countdown and new year in thi...

Most of offices and shops were closed ,everyone went back to their 'home'.

My pesidency time period is between 2016-17 ,so it's very lucky for me to experienced the japanese countdown and new year in this transitional time.

from Dec 20 , i could felt that people start to have countdown mentality in thier mind.Same as aother country-It s PARTY time - to farewell the old year and welcome the new year (new life? that they believed.). This Part 1 will show you about my experiences that i had from last week of 2016 til the countdown time to 2017.

Tsukiji Fish market - the most recommend to check out and here,you can smell the freshness.

I went to Tsukiji with Nishioka-san and Kaho ( They are Teratotera volunteer) to shopping a fish for forget the year party food for Teratotera members at night

we met up very early and Nishioka-san,he s a guy who expert in this area and he's a guide for this trip (He 's the one who a special cheif for party as well).

tourist are not allowed to take a photo in restricted area , because this market is not design for visitor or tourist ,so pathway quite narrow and 'rocket car' and many workers always move and working.it may cause of accident or disturb to their work.During the walk inside we have to keep an eyes on and be careful.

Gotcha .In this Santa bag included, big fish and ice. it was about 4-5 kg.

nearby fish market, there is a famous japanese omelet shop, so crowded customers and we bought this for our party too.

After finished shopping ,we went to sushi restaurant around Tsukiji area for lunch. Nishioka-san recommneded this one ,old school sushi bar. We were not disappoint. it was awesome tasty.

Party time! NIshioka-san stands up for opening speech. Kanpai!

yellow shirt girl is my super-research assistant, Kaho.

Here we goooo. so i thought my tongue can dance that moment.

Nextday , Christmas eve's. I went out at night with Kenji (my friend and national artist in parallel universe).

it was little despair because for christmas eve night out it should be a date for love couple. But.....

Anyway.we went out to visit a gallery in Asakusa.They had opening exhibition event of Rirkrit ,Yoko Ono and other artists 's art work.

After that we hung out at Sensoji temple and drinking with izakaya style. yeah under freezing weather.

"fake beer , mix before drink" Kenji said.

I was drunk and i had a super hangover in the next morning.

28 December , Ongoing Art Center BIG PARTY. Very big meeting party of Ongoing Collective ,there was full house of friends and unlimited beer and alcohol formular. Yeahhh

Don't think, just drink ,laugh and forget the year

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Nozomu was giving his speech "Thank you everyone and Ongoing going to be 9 years anniversary next year..." wow

someone died in duty on second floor.

And finally , 31 Dec 2016 - Countdown night!

Tokyo countdown time is not so popular for public countdown celebration. there was no big event or big fire work show this time difference frome other big city. In general , it's pretty quite atmosphere ,less people on the street , shops were closed. Japanese people prefer to stay at home with family than party outside. Unexpected surprise to me , I was almost alone that night but i still had Kenji,the dude.

No where to go then we decided to Asakusa zone again. This is a new Tokyo tower.

Many thousands of people went to Sensoji temple to make a wish and pray for new year coming

Kenji said it was very impressive time and great moment to countdown,so he brought me to themepark and saw local comedians show 30 mins before countdown and then yeah Booom "Happy new year 2017" ..Wat!... a Super _ucking impressive i ever experienced

traditional new year sake' drink

back to Sensoji again ,to make a wish.

Bought a holy item , depend on what kind of power you what to pump up to your life

bye

All it was about hard party time and impressive memory ;-)

Ok,that's it for this part. Thank for reading

See you next vol.

]]>Yh Od2017-01-20T18:40:19+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=175
Adaptation
first conversation in Japan with this guy at Haneda airport shuttle bus station - so lost in translation but somehow we can understand to&nbsp;not understand by common and context.
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...

first conversation in Japan with this guy at Haneda airport shuttle bus station - so lost in translation but somehow we can understand to not understand by common and context.

Hello anyone who reading this Ongoing AIR blog

My name is Yhod (nickname) ,Thawiphat Praengoen.From Thailand the land of madness and magical insanity.

I have got great opportunity to being participated in Ongoing Residency Program for two months ,Dec 2016-Feb 2017 for research and making a exhibition in final month.

I have been here almost a month now. From now on i will write "blog" to share about some of my experiences and ideas that i got from this extraordinary time.

This is a first vol.

"Adaptation"

This is a first time in Japan, the first world country. Ofcourse, I had cultural shock somtimes and I had to learn fast automatically about the new 'order' and social perception as a new language and conciousness to fit in and living here smoothly. The first week ,it was very intense and exciting for me. Following these are some examples I want to share.

I had to download this pix and saved in my phone to keep remind and recognize about signs of each garbage type.

As you known, Japan has strict and complicate about garbage separation system.Less and specific bin in public.I come from the country that people and city not so serious about garbage seperation and recycle management,so I had to keep focus and learn this system works ASAP. Garbage cannot be just thrown away into a bin anymore,it s a task and public responsbility.

Very convenince and predictable time for travel ,if you can use train by urself. I had to tune up my walking speed more 50% to catch up Japanese speed.

Even walking and public transportation have thier own convention and order in detail as well.

"Zoooddddd Zoooooooooddd......" " Oishi iii iii....."

Eating noodles and soup in proper Japanese way is not easy because you have to make "sound" during eat. Level of loud will show how good the food delicious and taste , it's like a compliment and thankful for chief.

Eating quitely is impolite and seem like disrespectful or showing this food not so good.

it's very hard for me. this so opposite to my culture. Everytime after finishing the meal I would fix this feeling by saying thank you and Oishiii directly.

Japan is a very hi-tech country. we can see advanced-machine and innovation in everydaylife so many things. Electronic-Toilet is one of them. First time experienced I got very awkward feeling. But now we are best friend ,especially the warming seat system, it's a answer of fundamental humankind problem, sitting on toilet in winter will never be the same,here.

Next time I will write my experince about New Year time in Japan 2016-17

Peace.

]]>Yh Od2017-01-12T19:23:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=174
Helena Hamilton: Week 5/6/7Week 5/6/7
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I will be installing my work Monday and Tuesday next week.&nbsp; Throughout my time here I have begun researching and creating a new body of work - following the materials that I chose to use - paper and sound.&nbsp; I have foun...Week 5/6/7

I will be installing my work Monday and Tuesday next week. Throughout my time here I have begun researching and creating a new body of work - following the materials that I chose to use - paper and sound. I have found the minimalist Japanese design, fashion and iconography very inspiring.

The work that I will show at Ongoing is the beginnings of this new body of work, running themes of repetition, simplicity, order and effect. One of my main experiences here has been the juxtaposition of a uniquely defined and extremely successful structure within the masses of people, happenings and places - I have never before experienced order like here in Tokyo, where no matter how busy, loud or intense a given space is there is never disorder, and this order is followed in a very diligent and polite manner. Without consciously meaning to, this has become evident in the work that I am producing through different strategic decisions made throughout the process of experimenting and creating. It is often the way within my practice that only when I take time to write and reflect on how and what I am creating that I begin to see these links in the chain of experience and creation.

This work will continue to develop when I return home.

]]>報告2016-11-23T09:39:47+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=173
Helena Hamilton: Week 2/3/4Helena Hamilton: Week 2/3/4
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I realise I didn&rsquo;t introduce my work in the last post - here is a link to my website: www.helenahamilton.com
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Throughout week 2, 3 and 4 I have further explored areas including Shinjuku, Shibuy...Helena Hamilton: Week 2/3/4

Throughout week 2, 3 and 4 I have further explored areas including Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno and Ryogoku. I visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum to see the current exhibition ‘The Art is in the Detail: Art Deco and the Former Prince Asaka Residence’ and Christian Boltanski’s exhibition ‘Animitas– Les âmes qui murmurent’. I’ve been a fan of Christian Boltanski’s work for years so it was really great to see. I also went to see the works on show at 3331 Arts Chiyoda for the Japan Media Arts Festival 20th anniversary ‘Power to Change’ exhibition and the Open Space 2016: Media Conscious exhibition at the ICC.

Christian Boltanski

Teien Art Museum

Shinjuku

Shibuya

Toshogu Shrine, Ueno

Inokashira Park

Station..

Sachiko kindly met me one weekend and brought me to one of the oldest paper shops in Tokyo - Itoya. I’m very interested in paper and plastic here and and currently developing work using both.

Itoya store - paper

I have been concentrating more on the source whether it be sonically or visually e.g. creating more sculptural works and recording a lot of audio which I am currently composing a sound piece with. When composing sound works I sketch how I feel a work should develop whilst listening to the recordings, then follow the sketch as I create the work, see image below. I’m very interested in how this will further develop.

Audio plan

]]>報告2016-11-07T12:29:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=172
Week 1My name is Helena I am from Belfast, N. Ireland. &nbsp;&nbsp;I arrived into Narita airport, Tokyo on Friday 7th Oct (2016).&nbsp; After travelling from Belfast I was a little disorientated regarding time/day but it was a very straight forward bus ride ...My name is Helena I am from Belfast, N. Ireland. I arrived into Narita airport, Tokyo on Friday 7th Oct (2016). After travelling from Belfast I was a little disorientated regarding time/day but it was a very straight forward bus ride to Kichijoji where Yukie kindly met me at the bus station and we went straight to the Ongoing house where I am staying.

I spent the weekend exploring Kichijoji - not going anywhere near public transport, just spending a lot of time walking around the area and sitting in the near by park (Inokashira Park), soaking in my surroundings whilst recalibrating my internal clock. Feeling very inspired and welcomed here - thank you Ongoing!

On Monday Yukie and Sachiko kindly brought me to the final day of the Teratotera festival in Mitaka - all interactive works, it was really great to see some of the works that local artists are making and to meet some of the artists too.

Throughout the rest of the week I went to Harajuku, visiting the Meji Shrine. I also visited the Design Festa Gallery and explored the area - some parts being super busy, whilst others quiet. The juxtaposition of loud and quiet (visually and sonically) is very interesting here to me as someone from Ireland - I will go back here and record some audio samples.

Harajuku: Visting the Meji Shrine, 'Making Wishes'

Harajuku

Harajuku: Outside the Design Festa Gallery

Harajuku, zebra crossing

Harajuku Station, Meji Shrine and 70 hectares of forest grounds to left, bustling city to right...esp interesting after dark

I also visited Roppongi twice, spending one day at the Mori Art Museum which currently has a show entitled ‘The Universe and Art’, really interesting collection of works - I sat through one piece by teamLab 3 times, it just made me smile so much!

The second day I went to Take Ninagawa Gallery which is a small but beautiful gallery space, currently exhibiting works by sculptor Charlotte Posenenske. I then decided to walk from Roppongi, through Harajuku to Shinjuku...it gives me more of an idea of where areas are situated in relation to each other whilst soaking in my surroundings. I plan to explore Shinjuku further this week as I have only been to visit the two (really great) art stores situated there: ‘Tokyo Hands’ and ‘Sekaido’.

]]>Fionn Duffy2016-09-08T11:12:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=168
IIIIt&#39;s been a busy few weeks!
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Here&#39;s a sneak peak of some collaboration with Ura-chan (you can find her work at http://urayaka.jimdo.com/)
We had some interesting conversations about interaction and communication.
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...It's been a busy few weeks!

Here's a sneak peak of some collaboration with Ura-chan (you can find her work at http://urayaka.jimdo.com/)

We had some interesting conversations about interaction and communication.

I also visited Teratotera Sound Festival which was a great introduction to local musicians, performers and artists in this part of Tokyo. Highlights for me were the collaborative performance by Mikiko Kawamura & HIKO and also UJINO's milkshake-making-mechanical-music.

I was also lucky enough to sit in on a Hichiriki lesson at a traditional Japanese Instrument shop near Ouiji Station. It was so kind of Sachiko and Kimiko for taking me there and introducing me to traditional Japanese music! I was particularly interested in the singing part of the class, the use of syllables and how that might translate to the performance of the music on an instrument.

the colourful braiding on this Koto may also find its way into my work some how!

It was also very interesting to talk to Kimiko about Gagaku and the possible gendering of folk / courtly instruments. I hope to see her play Sho one day.

Some other notes (in no particular order):

- Yusuke Shibata's exhibition at Ongoing

- Trying Japanese whisky with Kaho and Yoko

- Giving a talk at 3331 Arts Chiyoda and meeting some sleepy robots

I will try and keep this blog more updated in the coming weeks!

]]>Fionn Duffy2016-08-30T12:23:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=167
IIIf distance were measured in time
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If distance were measured in time

]]>Fionn Duffy2016-08-17T15:59:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=166
|Hello I am Fionn and I&#39;ve come from the UK to be artist in residence at Ongoing for the next couple of months.&nbsp;
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&#39;A tempest of heat. The brain&#39;s evaporation is a possibility.&#39;&nbsp;
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I think Etel A...Hello I am Fionn and I've come from the UK to be artist in residence at Ongoing for the next couple of months.

'A tempest of heat. The brain's evaporation is a possibility.'

I think Etel Adnan may have been describing summer in Tokyo, my scottish skin is slowly acclimatising to the heat and gradually thoughts are becoming more viscous.

A few notes from the last 7 days:

- I went to the park and heard a boy practicing his saxophone I like the sound of tuning an instrument .:

play, adjust, play, think, adjust, play, adjust, think, play, think, adjust and on and on and on

-. The sound of cicadas roars every time you pass by trees Do you ever get used to it?

how could you replicate the sound of cicadas? A bicycle wheel on a motor? clickclickclick

- Lots of lines, electricity wires, clothes lines, fences, doorways, unfamiliar lines in the road, the strokes of written text.

-.Masahiro Wada exhibition in Shibuya that Abe-chan told me to go to, she was right, it was interesting. I particularly liked the installation of the screens, watching both at once, on different levels, simultaneously.

- A sword made from meteorite, a jomon pot, ufos and a moon song all at the Mori Museum.

and finally a piece I liked from an exhibition at Coexist Gallery. I think it's by Yuko Ozawa, recording the sound of headphone wires.

I have already spend uncountable hours in this great place and have got some lovely records in a really low price. Here are some of my purchases...

An interesting single from Stephen Malkmus, the frontman of Pavement !

I think this is one of the most underrated album from Lou Reed

I always want to get the Cartridge Music album by John Cage and I finally got it now for just 600 yen!

Olivia Tremor Control are epic

Animal Collective ! really nice CD cover I think...

I have never seen this little single from Primal Scream

I got this in the avant garde vinyl section. I didn't know what this was but I just bought it anyway because I kind of like the design. It is actaully a piece of wood attached to the jacket of the vinyl and the most important thing is the album sounds good. I think this is one of the pleasures of wandering around in music store, that is, you can always encounter something interesting by chance... and of course, you can do that too on the internet... but it's a bit different.
]]>報告2016-04-29T00:53:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=163
hellohello, this is Alvin&nbsp;Lee Siu Hin,&nbsp;&nbsp;the 16 Th &nbsp;Ongoing AIR artist. I am from Hong Kong. I came to Tokyo on the 14 Th &nbsp;April, so it&#39;s&nbsp;more than a&nbsp;week already! And I am still getting used to the atmosphere of this b...hello, this is Alvin Lee Siu Hin, the 16 Th Ongoing AIR artist. I am from Hong Kong. I came to Tokyo on the 14 Th April, so it's more than a week already! And I am still getting used to the atmosphere of this beautiful and energetic place, while all the nice people from Ongoing help me to adapt the enviornment quickly from various casual gatherings and art events.

The first thing I want to share is I visited Roppongi a few days ago, which really is an elegant neighbourhood. After I went to The National Art Center for an exhibiton of Miyake Issey, whom is one of the greatest japanese designer, I then paid a visit to Mori Art Musuem for a show called "Roppongi Crossings 2016: My Body, Your Voice", which features works from established and emerging Japanese artists.

This is the work by Mohri Yuko, a Japanese Artist that I like so much since I am always interested in the connection between sound and the visual art.

There are some other interesting works too!

I am always interested in the Japanese art scene, so I guess one of the things that I will do most in this residency is probably visiting different art spaces in Tokyo. That's it for now. Will keep on posting :)
]]>報告2016-04-23T23:56:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingair

http://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=162
and sometimes you just need a haircut&nbsp;
]]>報告2015-11-30T12:54:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=161
Artist talk at 3331 and cultural exchange&nbsp;I was invited by Yukie Hirokawa who works with Ongoing and 3331 to make a presentation about my work and the context of Belfast on the 25 of November. please see below some text and links relating to Belfasts troubled history. I would also like t...

I want to know about Tokyo and Japan so please feel free to share your stories and understandings with me too.

Artist presentation at 3331 Tokyo on Belfast.

25 November 2015

Introduction

I moved to Belfast in 1997 to finish my Bachelors of Fine
Art at the University of Ulster. This
was just before the Good Friday Peace
Agreement was signed by the Irish and British Governments to help work
together towards peace in Northern Ireland.
When I arrived there was still a strong military presence on the streets
and frequent helicopters observed the city from above. The Good Friday agreement has been a major
step forward for a lasting peace for the region.

The Context of Belfast; as a city that has been the site of
a long history of civil unrest and frequent acts of terrorism it is a unique
place. Artist like everyone else suffered loss and hardship as a result of the
conflict, which is often called “The
Troubles” . I feel it is best to try and illustrate my talk with images to
help you understand more and get a stronger sense of the place and its history,
to put into context the reading of art from such a place.

People killed by The Troubles to date from 1969 - 2015 = over
3,600

Many, many more physically injured and a society physiologically
injured.

Belfast is a good place to visit and spend some time as an
artist. A number of residency programs exist and I have popped some links to useful
websites and pages to have a look at thanks and perhaps I will see you in
Belfast

]]>報告2015-11-30T12:33:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=160
Belfast Art and Society; Japanese artistic intervention&nbsp;For the past number of years many artists and curators who have visited Belfast and i have hooked up with almost everyone in Tokyo. Here are a few faces that my be familiar to you. Oh and i should add that my very good friend Shiro Masuyama lives...

Sorry things are the wrong way around, i don't know how to change HELP!!!

Perhaps the wonderful Nozomu Ogawa can HELP!!!

]]>報告2015-11-30T12:00:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=159
Here are some examples of my work, enjoy !!&nbsp;
]]>報告2015-11-30T11:39:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=157
people i have met and shared timeHello everyone, apologies about my lack of communication i had thought my stuff was posting. Anyway here are some shots of people i have hung out with and enjoyed conversation with about art and life here in Japan, its Important for me to get to know m...

]]>報告2015-11-26T15:33:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=156
Hello Im Deirdre and a bad BloggerIm not sure if I'm doing this right but here goes lets try!!!Firstly hello!I am here in Tokyo from Belfast, in the north of Ireland. I arrived on the 25 of October and will stay until the 22 of december. Tokyo is amazing so many things to do and see th...Im not sure if I'm doing this right but here goes lets try!!!

Firstly hello!

I am here in Tokyo from Belfast, in the north of Ireland. I arrived on the 25 of October and will stay until the 22 of december. Tokyo is amazing so many things to do and see that it hard to know where to start. so I'm gonna paste some information about my practice and a few image to give you a taste.

oh and last night i did a talk at the wonderful 3331, i really like this space.

Biography

Deirdre
McKenna, born. Dublin Ireland 1973, is based in Belfast, N.Ireland. McKenna’s practice incorporates sculpture,
installation, lens, audio, painting and curation. She studied Fine Art Painting at the
University Of Ulster, Belfast. She acted as a co-director of Catalyst Arts
between 2002 and 2004 exhibiting, organising and collaborating. She returned to
study a masters in fine art at the University of Ulster, graduating with
distinction in 2007. She received the
RUA Prize Outstanding Student Award and Dean’s Prize. McKenna is a studio
holder in Flax Art Studios, Belfast, and is represented by the Golden Thread
Gallery, Belfast. McKenna has exhibited nationally and internationally
with her work being exhibited at the Scope New York & London Art Fair. McKenna’s work is part
of the Arts Council of Northern Irelands collection and numerous private
collections, and has been featured in many international art journals Sculpture
Magazine USA, Circa Ireland amongst others

The nature of my work stems from my desire to visualise
stories, while allowing room for the viewer to extend upon the narrative or
meaning. I make work that is of an
auto/biographical nature, preferring to take a more oblique angle. The
outcomes of my practice, results in a broad material, visual & conceptual
manifestation. I feel a great need to be free of a “signature” type approach to
what I do, and aim to offer viewers a vision of something with integrity, both
in its conceptual value and artistic realisation. Each work has its own statement to make.

]]>報告2015-11-26T15:02:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=155
NEARLY DISCO TIMEBright flashing lights, loud sounds and music and crowds of people. The experience of disco and of Tokyo. Travelling around Tokyo at night, from the chaos of Shibuya crossing, the shiny excitement of Kababukicho, crazy street fashion, karaoke, the game...Bright flashing lights, loud sounds and music and crowds of people. The experience of disco and of Tokyo. Travelling around Tokyo at night, from the chaos of Shibuya crossing, the shiny excitement of Kababukicho, crazy street fashion, karaoke, the game arcades and pachinko parlors, to the chimes and noises everywhere from the train stations to the street crossing. It is sensory overload.

I am an artist from Brisbane, Australia who explores the shiny,
colourful world of disco in my video, photographic and installation artworks.
Inspired by glamour, nostalgia and fashion, my artworks reflect a personal
obsession with looking back to the popular culture of past decades,
specifically the 1970s. Using elements such as mirror balls, lights, and
shiny fabrics I create artworks which often involve staged self-portraits and
performances whilst wearing ornately decorated, super sparkly hand-sewn
costumes. I transcend and transform everyday sites through her
interactions and performances and urges the viewer to step into her playful
fantasy world where disco reigns supreme and everything is shiny, brightly
coloured and fantastic.

As the next artist with Ongoing AIR I am currently wandering around Tokyo looking for inspiration in shiny things, flashing lights and interesting sounds!

SHE SAID SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR MORE CONSCIOUSNESS IN HER VIDEO WORKS.SHE SAID SOME PERSONS ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT CONCEPTS.

HERE SHE WAS WONDERING IF SHE WOULD FIND SOME CONTAMINATED SNOW.SHE WENT OUT WITH HER DOG.

SHE ONCE WAS A RABBIT ON THE BEACH. SHE FOUND A CARROT THERE.SHE TOOK THE CARROT AND THEN TRHEW IT IN THE SEA.SHE MADE LITTLE RABBIT-SHIT ON THE BEACH. THE LITTLE RABBIT-SHIT TURNED OUT TO BE ALIVE AND BECAME A LITTLE OWN SOCIETY.SHE SAID IT WAS A FAMILY PRODUCTION.

ONE DAY SHE FOUND A VERY BIG OCTOPUS IN HER BATHTUB. SHE READ THAT A STORY LIKE THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE IN APRIL 2011. SO SHE MADE A VERY BIG OCTOPUS AND PUT IT INTO HER BATH.IT WAS HERSELF OR MAYBE HER DOG. THE INSIDE OF THE OCTOPUS WAS EATABLE, SO HER GRANDMOTHER PREPARED SOMETHING FOR THE DOG. IT LOOKED LIKE FINGERS OR MAYBE CARROTS.

IN THE EXHIBTITION SHE SHOWED A VIDEO OF HERSELF AS A BIRD AND TWO OF HER FRIENDS MAKING "BOY'S LOVE" AS SHE EXPLAINED.SHE WAS INSPIRED BY A PROFESSOR SEARCHING FOR A RARE BIRD IN THE FOREST. SHE MET HIM OR HER COINCIDENTLY AND FELT A BIT GUILTY BECAUSE SHE MAYBE DISTURBED... THE TITLE OF THE EXHIBITION WAS: "i AM SORRY, DADDY."

]]>報告2015-05-05T20:23:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=149
The solution is ....................................................................&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SPORTS, of course!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; .....................................................................................

]]>報告2015-05-04T20:35:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=148
the sun the pillow the work&nbsp;“Advice for Young Readers” It is also the advice I have given myself for a long time.
The pattern of people’s lives is a track based on how one’s attention
has been formed and how it has been warped. Forms of attention are
exactly the outcom...

“Advice for Young Readers”

It is also the advice I have given myself for a long time.

The pattern of people’s lives is a track based on how one’s attention
has been formed and how it has been warped. Forms of attention are
exactly the outcomes of education and culture themselves.

People always
grow. What increases and elevates one’s attention are the proprieties
that people show against alien things. It’s hard to take in new stimuli
and to work on it.

Watch for censorship. However don’t forget it –the censorship that
lurks in the depth of society and in one’s personal life is,
“self”-censorship. Read books a lot. Books filled with something big
that awakes pleasure or that deepens you. Keep up your expectations. The
books which aren’t worthy of reading twice aren’t worth reading. (By
the way, we can say the same thing about movies.)

Be careful not to sink into the slam of words. Try to imagine the specific, lived reality. For example, the word such as “war.”

Don’t think about yourself, what you want, what you need, or what you
are disappointed in, as much as possible. Don’t think about you at all
or at least for half of your living time.

Move around. Go traveling. Live abroad for a while. Never stop
traveling. If you can’t go far away, in that case go deeply into places
you can be by yourself. Even if time is disappearing, places are always
there. Places compensate for time. For example, feelings that the past
has not already been a burden.

In this world, businesses are dominant activities, and making money
is a dominant standard. Maintain the philosophy of places to counter
business or don’t care about business. If you want to be by yourself,
you can be a power to counter the things that are weak and lack heart.
Hate violence. Hate the decollation and narcissism of the country.

Imagine at least once a day that if you are one of the majority who
live on the earth without passports, fridges, and phones and who have
never got on planes.

You should be skeptical against the government of your country. Be skeptical against other countries’ governments as well.

Not to be fair is difficult. Therefore, reduce your fairness more
than now. Laughing is good as long as you don’t intend to kill your
emotions.

Don’t accept relationships which protect you or are despised by
others. -If you are a woman, that can happen through your whole life.
Cope with humiliation. Scold mean men severely.

Pay attention. Paying attention is the heart of it all. Take what
there is in front of your eyes as much as possible. Then, don’t narrow
your own life to lose duties which are imposed on you.

Paying attention is vital. It connects you to others. It makes you passionate. Always be passionate!

As
far as I could find out, "Checkuma" is an (especially
for the japanese market) apple-provided download-bear to check your
daily BM-Index.The BMI can help you to know how thin you are in
relation to how long you are.He is also on facebook, so you can
be friends with him, if you like.To be honest: I was a bit surprised, because
he doesn't look that modern and I found him in the streets in a rubbish bag.

But maybe this is an indicator, that
facebook also is not that modern anymore?

Besides
the fact that you could find me on facebook also and you could even
become my friend, too (if you like), and the fact that I think Checkuma and me, we
both do operate in quite personal fields...

...
my work is a bit different than the bear's.I
am not so good with calculating, for example.

JUST
TO HAVE SAID IT AT LEAST ONCE:The
frame and the freedom: I got the opportunity to stay from now until 10th of June in
marvellous Kichijoji. I will make an exhibition in the end, this little blog inbetween.
The accomodation is free, I got a little black bicycle and I am surrounded by incredibly nice and very supporting persons.Arigatou gozaimasu. Hontoni!

]]>Yonatan Geron2015-03-21T20:09:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=138
KEEPN IT REAL&nbsp;TOKYO, June 7 1994&#8212;&nbsp;An official of the Liberal Democratic Party urges in a new book that his party try to regain power by adopting a new role model: Hitler.The book, "Hitler Election Strategy: A Bible for Certain Victory in Modern Elec...

TOKYO, June 7 1994— An official of the Liberal Democratic Party urges in a new book that his party try to regain power by adopting a new role model: Hitler.

The book, "Hitler Election Strategy: A Bible for Certain Victory in Modern Elections," says the Nazi leader's process for "unifying public opinion in a short period of time and snatching power" provides "very important teachings."

The author, Yoshio Ogai, is a public relations official in the Tokyo chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party Japan's largest, which controlled the Government for nearly four decades until being ousted last summer.

In an interview today, Mr. Ogai said the book did not state an official party position, merely his personal advice to candidates in these "chaotic" times that they could learn some tactics from Hitler. He said, however, that he had cleared the book beforehand with the (LDP) secretary general Tokyo branch.

Mr. Ogai said the book does not deal at all with Hitler's policies toward the Jews, only with his tactics for influencing public opinion.

Each chapter of the 167-page book begins with a quotation from Hitler's autobiography, "Mein Kampf," or from some work about Hitler. But the book does not talk much about Hitler, only about election strategy.

One chapter begins with a quotation noting that Hitler's strategy was to "wipe out enemies with emergency measures." For candidates, the book advises that to "wipe out does not mean to kill" one's political opponents. "It means to take measures to stop their political activities."

The book has not attracted much attention in Japan. The publisher, Chiyoda Nagata Shoba, said no more than 3,000 copies had been sold since the book went on sale in May.

]]>Yonatan Geron2015-02-16T11:47:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=131
artical-xThis is a part 1 of my accumulated things.&nbsp;Literally i dont know exactly how or what to do with it. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;(temp/title) why did the chicken cross the road?&nbsp;see also post on circles and rotation (neon light / wall clock)This is one...

This is a part 1 of my accumulated things.

Literally i dont know exactly how or what to do with it.

(temp/title) why did the chicken cross the road?

see also post on circles and rotation (neon light / wall clock)

This is one of many ideas i had dealing with my little bird.

original photo by jiro takamatsu

these are donuts and rice

this is wrapped donuts and rice

]]>Yonatan Geron2015-02-14T09:46:00+09:00ongoingairJUGEMongoingairhttp://air.ongoing.jp/?eid=130
mysteries of the lost tribe&nbsp;An open investigation into the settlement of jewish tribes of israel in ancient japan. numerous scholars in both countries found multiple sources of evidence for this in folk law and other Shinto traditions.&nbsp;similar crest in second temple an...

An open investigation into the settlement of jewish tribes of israel in ancient japan. numerous scholars in both countries found multiple sources of evidence for this in folk law and other Shinto traditions.

similar crest in second temple and imperial seal .

Japanese mizura and jewish payot

the hata mountain people of old japan were said to have mystical powers of strength and wisdom. the ritual mask of the hata has great resemblance to the popular figure of tengu. he appears in many shapes and had the ability to change form. also known as the patron of martial arts punishing the corrupt misuses of power, authority and those who corrupt the dharma.

the hentu mask and tengu god feature large nose or beak, often as an exaggerated attribute. stories and myths tell of un-human beings with super natural powers.

in a 2006 tv mini series on the unknown the story of the hata people was told comparison to ancient israel, including diplomatic officials and religious authorities dubiously attempting to create a chosen mythical lineage to god.

president of jewish comunity in tokyo rabbi henry noah, interviewed for the program

the resemblance is remarkable!

rabbe Schneerson (lubavitch) -son of god

lubavitch was criticized for his passion and desire to raise awareness to the coming of the Messiah.

During his life many people hoped that he would be revealed as the Messiah.. Admirers pointed to traditional Jewish theology which teaches that in every generation there is one person who is worthy of being the Messiah, and if God deems the times right, he will be revealed by God as such..

in nazi and other racist traditions use of myth is common. theories of supremency are used to enlighten their peolpe into beleiving there own superiority. this is especially effective when governments need to explain why thy must rule other races and why they have royal lineage.

--------crooked cross----------

svastika (Devanagari: स्वस्तिक), meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote auspiciousness, or any piece of luck or well-being..

a Chinese character with variations of this form appearing in most pagan cultures.

nazi propaganda

like the broken cross, 1930s propaganda made use of the myth of the hata people.